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A NATION'S BIRTH 



AND OTHER 



NATIONAL POEMS. 



A NATION'S BIRTH 



AND OTHER 



NATIONAL POEMS. 



GEORGE H.>€ALVERT. 



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BOSTON: 

LEE AND SHEPARD. 

1876. 



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Copyright, 
By GEORGE H. CALVERT. 

1876. 



RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE I 

STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY 

H. 0. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

A NATION'S BIRTH . 7 

BUNKER HILL 31 

SOMERS, WADSVTORTH, ISRAEL 36 

REUBEN JAMES 46 

WASHINGTON 48 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 

JULY THE FOURTH, 1776. 

With untried deeper rhythm, — 

As for a holier, chrism, — 

Sea-choruses along 

The Atlantic coast sang their resounding 

song, 
The unwonted fugue by tides 
Borne inland to the hills, 
Whose hearkening savage sides 
Quiver to feel the strain that thrills 
Broad air with new prophetic flood. 
Lone Niagara, in his aged solitude, 
Catching the robust sound, 
Shouted such thunderous shout 
His neighbor seas and wakened wilderness 



8 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Shook to the core, the shout's rebound 

Making the wisest stars look out 

By day, with their best light to bless 

The splendid prophecy. 

Onward with the happy Sun 

Swept the warm fluent symphony, 

Mingling at noon 

Its martial tune 

With Mississippi's giant run 

(Who paused in joy to listen) ; 

Then westward sped to where 

Nevada's virgin summits glisten 

In vast Pacific's glare. 

The placid Ocean, her great sister's roar 

Quick answering, with calm upheaval smote 

The sleeping golden shore, 

Echoing Atlantic's jubilant note ; 

For she well knew, that tone the birth- 
throes meant 

Of a new Empire on their sunny Conti- 
nent. 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 9 

Deep nature feels with deeper man, 
Attuned to helpfullest accord 
When first creative breathings here began 
Their endless work and sacred word. 
The invisible circumambient air 
Feeds with its finest food the soul, 
And from sidereal reaches brings 
More heavenly visitings 
When nobler aspirations bear 
Upward men's thought and a stout will con- 
trol. 
And now the manful race, 
Who close behind tempestuous capes 
Had built self-governed tenures, brace 
Brave hearts 'gainst usurpation, that aye 

gapes 
For more. From Hampshire's mountain 

fields 
To Georgia's hot alluvial plains, 
Where'er soil, tree, or river yields 



10 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Fruit to industrious foresight's pains. 
Farms, hamlets, cities, towns upgrew, 
Mastered by men who from dear England 

drew 
Their wishes, principles ; who brought 
Much freedom with them, seeking more ; 
So that, when England's arrogant King dis- 
traught, 
With his dull oligarchic tools would gore 
This loyal people with sharp tyrannies, 
Uneasy motions mounted by degrees 
From silent deeps to uttered wrath, 
Until to some the bloody path 
Of war yawned on the vision. South and 

North, — 
In those first days there was no West, — 
Empowered men, their wisest, best, 
In solemn Congress to deliberate ; 
From whom such words and acts went forth, 
That Chatham to them tribute paid, 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 11 

And from his peerless station said, 

In History they have no mate. 

To that august Assembly give 

Thanks upon thanks from age to age, 

Yet, long as on this Continent shall live 

Men of our race, they will not disengage 

Their being from its living debt to them. 

In the conned annals of the breeds 

Who wrought for right by word and deeds, 

Each one will shine a beckoning gem. 

The spirit that will not brook the wrong, 

That was the pith that made them strong. 

And one there was, the very symbol clear 

Of this hale spirit, wise 

Even above each great compeer, 

A man from whose blue deepening eyes 

Looked soul so human, so benign, 

Men felt his presence as a breath divine, 

A light whereby their souls could see, 

Inspiriting warmth to chilled humanity. 



12 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Not yet full known, more felt 

Than valued, in him dwelt, 

Yet latent to himself, the powers 

That were to blaze o'er darkest hours 

A flame of might, a star 

Potent to rule the waywardness of war. 

And now came couriers breathless, pale, 
Sped from the North by battle's wail j 
And in and out of Boston stood 
Defiant armies, their hot blood 
By mutual slaughter chafed to infuriate 

mood. 
The Congress oped its arms and made its 

own 
The host that had so boldly thrown 
Its bloody gauntlet in the teeth 
Of Britain's power. The sheath 
Of peace was flung away. And then, 
In that great clan of men, 
All looks were turned to him, 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 13 

By no self-seeking stained, 

Sole leader, preordained 

To vast achievement, dim 

As yet even to the scope 

Of largest earthliest hope. 

With earnest unanimity 

The high Assembly named 

Him who for young supremacy 

In arms was early in Virginia famed. 

Then he, as fast as horse could speed, 

Eode eager to the post decreed. 

And when the ranks in Cambridge their new 

chief 
Beheld, up went a myriad-throated shout 
That shattered sheer the veil of doubt : 
His mien majestic gendered quick belief, 
As 'neath the Elm he calmly took command 
O'er all the forces of th' embattled land. 
And when that sacred sword flashed in the 

Sun 



14 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

For us, a liberating power was won, 
For History, the name of Washington. 
Now Order by the throat rude Chaos 
caught, 
And stern Obedience to loose Licence taught 
The fruitful laws of discipline. 
Then mattock, shovel, pick, and spade 
So wrought at fort and palisade, 
The foe was daily more pent in. 
Through all one night of early spring 
With thundering echo fell, 
From the wide hurried ring 
Of forts, ball, bomb, and shell 
Upon the leaguered foe, 
Puzzled not long to know 
What meant this deafening night's 
Unresting cannonade ; 
For on the impending heights 
Of Dorchester shovel and spade 
Had in those few noise-shielded hours 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 15 

Built battlement that lowers 

So deadly on army, fleet, that in dismay 

The foe his legions pressed aboard ; and sailed 
away. 
From rescued Boston toward the South, 

To Hudson's affluent mouth 

The Chieftain sped, 

In time to meet 

The foeman, thither fled, 

Borne by his puissant fleet. 

And now began those great retreats, — 

Tokens of his high mastership, — 

Which the outnumbering war-trained enemy 

Outwore, and, spite of manifold defeats 

And gashing strokes on thigh and hip, 

Upstored for us the final victory. 

Whilst in New York the Chief was com- 
passed round 

With risks, from Philadelphia came a sound 

Ne'er heard before 



16 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

All the world o'er, 

Shout for a Nation's birth ! 

Then through the Peoples of the earth 

Shot a new thrill, 

And a new will 

Waked, with an earthquake heave, 

In the drugged consciousness of man. 

Then all who sorely grieve 

Beneath compulsive sway 

Smiled fiercely, as from mount to valley ran 

The auroral tidings of that holy day. 

Vast spectacle sublime ! 

Unseen on all the rearward heights of time ! 

A State deliberately self-created, 

A Nation born of highest principles, born 

Of inward, manful, moral need, 

Upreared from feeling into deed, 

On that blest July morn, 

For aye to freedom consecrated. 

Out of itself a people drew 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 17 

Its government anew. 

Of History's highest they the peers 

Those fifty-six who signed as one, 

Tutelary pioneers 

Those few who seized a safety for the 

whole, — 
By magnitude of soul 
Creators, Poets, gifted Seers, 
Through the rhythm of lofty deeds, 
In holy unison 

With the singing of the Spheres, — 
Prophets who sowed so wisely deep, their 

seeds 
Keep coming up for aye 
In luminous display, 
In broadening benefaction ; 
So freshly sound their action, 
Their doings live in all the best we do : 
From them our privileged possessings, — 

2 



18 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

A glorious past and freedom to be true. 
May we still have their blessings. 

While this strong band, in that ascendant 
hour, 
On its vast orbit hurled 
Portentous Empire, a new Power 
Among the Nations of the world, 
And to the glad caressing blast 
A maiden banner cast 
With sane audacity, 
Their chosen martial Leader, where was 

he? 
Driven from stand to stand 
By foes swarming on shore and sea 
Outnumbering far 
In men and the armory of war 
His raw command ; 
Almost surrounded, 
His flanks and rear 
By boats of foemen bounded, 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 19 

And, fearful thought ! himself to death so 

near ; 
For, galloping, at cannon's call, 
He met a squadron flying : 
Enraged at such a fall 
From duty, fear's disgrace, 
He snapt his pistols in their face, 
Struck at them with his sword, and crying 
" Am I to save America with these ? " 
In his wild anger sprang to throw 
Himself single upon the advancing foe, — 
His bright soul for a moment dimmed by 

honor's wrath, — 
Had not been by an aide to seize 
His horse and wheel him from the deathful 

path. 
His wonted calm he soon regained, 
To guard, like growling lion foiled, 
The panic-stricken fugitives, he pained 
To the soul that they had so ingloriously re- 
coiled. 



20 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Still reinforced^ the foe 
Drove him across the Hudson, slow, 
With his lion's heart, to turn his back, 
Except to save the cause. Ever on the rack 
Himself, as man, as General, he still kept 
The courage up of all ; and now he wept 
As tenderest child, to see 
The heroic garrison 
Of fortress Washington 
Butchered before his eyes incapably. 
Nothing was left but flight 
Through Jersey's plains : he had no means 

to fight. 
Mistrust, desertion, treason, blind despair 
Within, poisoning the general air, 
Exultant enemies without, 
Sure clutching at his total rout, 
His country's and his doom 
Seemed swift impending. 'Mid the gloom 
The shaken land that palled 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 21 

He stood staunch, hopeful, unappalled, 

His steadfast soul a light 

To warn his country to its right. 

While proud oppressors everywhere 

Joyed like lean tiger leaping from his lair, 

And the oppressed still deeper groaned, 

Feeling their chains already bind 

More tightly, he sat throned 

On faith in good and his unconquerable 

mind. 
Pursued to Delaware's low banks, 
He passed with thinned and sickly ranks, 
His army to a handful dwindled, 
Almost extinct the fire so late enkindled. 

When winter's gloom had deepened night, 
And the half-conquered land had chilled 
With thoughts the colder for its plight, 
And pulse of hope was nearly stilled, 
And every patriotic eye 
Drooped with despondency, 



22 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Washington the rough river crossed 

At midnight, his full boats betossed 

In ice ; and through a storm of snow 

Struck unexpected blow 

That made their legions reel ; 

Eepassed the flood, with keel 

Deeper for a thousand prisoners, 

Startling the lifted land, that stirs 

Once more with hope ; and then, 

Hardly time given to rest his men, 

The freezing Delaware recrossed 

To front at Trenton confident Cornwallis, 

Who exclaimed at evening, " Now he 's lost, 

He 's mine to-morrow." Of that solace 

The British Chief was cheated. 

For, roused by distant cannon's boom, 

That told his rear would be defeated, 

He looked, to see the room, 

Filled in the evening by our camp, 

Deserted, bare, our squadrons gone, 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 23 

Unheard their stealthy tramp. 

'T was a great day for us and Washington, 

That morning fight at Princeton. 

The first line checked and driven back, 

His drawn sword gleaming, 

His eyes war-lightnings beaming, 

He led them to a fresh attack, 

Waving and calling to the charge : 

Himself on battle's hottest marge 

A moment veiled by smoke, 

He emerged victor by personal daring, 

By his inspiring mien and bearing, 

By bold strategic stroke, 

Courage with wisdom blent. 

AYell might great Frederick send a sword, 

Magnanimously enfurled 

In this significant word, 

" From Europe's oldest General sent 

To the greatest in the world." 

England, America, at length 



24 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Began to feel the single strength 

Of this upmounting man. 

The worst birth-throes were past. 

The foe — he stood aghast 

To see shattered his fostered plan. 

But still must we smart at defeats, 
Still mourn rude sufferings, checks, retreats ; 
At Brandywine, at Germantown, 
Again confront war's bloody frown ; 
And shiver then at Valley Forge, 
Where, as in Alpine gorge, 
Winter's impetuous blasts 
Their anger at our warriors dart, 
Half clad, half fed at their repasts ; 
Only their souls warmed by their Chief's 
great heart. 

From Philadelphia's nest Clinton flew 
North. 
Tracking him on his way, sped forth 
The aye watchful Washington, who struck 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 25 

At Monmouth staggering blow ; 
Then, careworn, soon could comfort pluck 
From the advent of Count Eochambeau 
From France, bringing most timely generous 

aid, 
The which with thanks can never be o'er- 

paid. 
To the far South, now sorely prest, 
The Chief despatched his trustiest, best 
Lieutenant, Greene ; worthy to be 
Second to such a first was he. 
Then after him the gallant Lafayette, 
Our noble friend, and who not yet 
Hath had his meed of statue, but whose 

name 
Will ever sparkle with this unique fame, 
That he was as a son 
Beloved of Washington. 

And now the Chief, with practised martial 

ken, 



26 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Planned from afar 

The climax of the war. 

Shaping each angle of the pen 

Whereinto was Cornwallis driven ; 

And the last link of chains, • 

That bound us to the pains 

Of weak dependence, riven. 

Once more he crossed the Delaware. 

Britain, beware ! 

'Tis the last time 

The man sublime 

Will pass in panoply of war. 

His soul is now in arms 

Burning fierce War to push 

From his black throne, and hush 

His dread alarms. 

Europe, America, hung on that march : 

All knew him then the keystone of the arch. 

His soldiers were bronzed veterans now ; 

The officers tried heroes, who 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 27 

To patriotism had made a vow ; 

Martyrs if need be, prompt to woo 

Danger where dangers most abound ; 

Men who went earnest forth to found 

A great Eepublic for the Ages, 

Fame, consciousness of duty their high 

wages. 
This dear exalted band, 
To whom we owe our land, 
Our privilege to do the right, 
Our deepest fountains of delight, 
Looked to their Chief with reverence 
And love, with confidence 
Illimitable. In .the camp, 
The field, he was their lamp 
Of safety. From within, this modest man 
Earned his high place of foremost in the van. 
A primal goodness in his nature turned 
His wheels of action, either when he burned 
With wrath or calmly for the better yearned. 



28 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

'T was a large heart's soft throb that warmly 

swelled 
His being to its clean, symmetric, great 
Proportions. Men loved him because there 

welled 
Within himself such love it made his state 
An hourly benediction. 'T was the weight 
Of character that gave his look its power. 
Those who came near him put religious trust 
In his plain speech, that braced them strong 

and quelled 
All discontent and fear. He was so just 
His will became the measure of the true ; 
And angels seemed to second it and strew 
Quick lights along his darknesses, a shower 
Of guidance, as they held him for a mate : 
With high superiorities so rife, 
He came to be the soul of a new Nation's 

life, 
The ideal man for a whole People's lead, 



A NATION'S BIRTH. 29 

Beacon whereby the true and pure to read ; 
A man whose life had this transcendant 

beauty, 
'Twas all and ever subject unto duty. 

On the great march he to Mount Vernon 

came. 
Six stormful years had died since, without 

name, 
A simple country gentleman, in story 
Unknown, he left it. He returned, a glory 
To the land, his country's father, and a light 
Forever in his country's sight. 
Short time he tarried, but with guests - 
Illustrious rode onward to where 
The foe still gleams in arms, and rests 
Hopeful of help, which 't is the care 
Of Washington shall not be given. 
At last the British chieftain, who had striven 
Bravely 'gainst skill and fate, reluctant 

yields. 



30 A NATION'S BIRTH. 

Then on war-wounded fields 

The Angel Peace poured his strong balm, 

And sudden rapturous calm 

Smoothed, like a smiling slumber, 

The ruffled feverish land, and number 

Of fleetest couriers bore from side to side 

The mighty news. Late in the night 

They stirred the city watch, who all alight 

Strode quick, and cried 

From block to block, 

Glad citizens to waken, 

" Past two o'clock ! 

Cornwallis is taken." 



BUNKER HILL. 

" Not yet, not yet ; steady, steady ! " 

On came the foe, in even line : 
Nearer and nearer to thrice paces nine. 
We looked into their eyes. " Keady ! " 
A sheet of flame ! A roll of death ! 
They fell by scores ; we held our breath ! 
Then nearer still they came ; 
Another sheet of flame ! 
And brave men fled who never fled before. 
Immortal fight ! 
Foreshadowing flight 
Back to the astounded shore. 

Quickly they rallied, reinforced. 
Mid louder roar of ship's artillery, 



82 BUNKER HILL. 

And bursting bombs and whistling musketry 
And shouts and groans, anear, afar, 
All the new din of dreadful war, 
Through their broad bosoms calmly 

coursed 
The blood of those stout farmers, aiming 
For freedom, manhood's birthrights claim- 



Onward once more they came : 
Another sheet of cleathful flame ! 
Another and another still : 

They broke, they fled : 

Again they sped 
Down the green, bloody hill. 

Howe, Burgoyne, Clinton, Gage, 
Stormed with commanders' rage. 
Into each emptied barge 
They crowd fresh men for a new charge 



BUNKER HILL. 33 

Up that great hill. 
Again their gallant blood we spill : 
That volley was the last : 
Our powder failed. 
On three sides fast 
The foe pressed in ; nor quailed 
A man. Their barrels empty, with musket- 
stocks 
They fought, and gave death-dealing 

knocks, 
Till Prescott ordered the retreat. 
Then Warren fell ; and, through a leaden 
sleet, 
From Bunker Hill and Breed, 
Stark, Putnam, Pomeroy, Knowlton, Read 
Led off the remnant of those heroes true, 
The foe too shattered to pursue. 
The ground they gained j but we 
The victory. 

3 



34 BUNKER HILL. 

The tidings of that chosen band 
Flowed in a wave of power 

Over the shaken, anxious land. 

To men, to man, a sudden dower. 

From that staunch, beaming hour 

History took a fresh higher start ; 
And when the speeding messenger, that 
bare 

The news that strengthened every 
heart, 
Met near the Delaware 
Riding to take command, 

The leader, who had just been 
named, 
Who was to be so famed, 

The steadfast, earnest Washington 
With hand uplifted cries, 

His great soul flashing to his eyes, 
" Our liberties are safe ; the cause is 

won." 



BUNKER HILL. 35 

A thankful look he cast to heaven; and 
then 
His steed he spurred, in haste to lead such 
noble men. 

Newport, R. I., June 8th , 1875. 



SOMERS, WADS WORTH, ISRAEL. 

SCEXE BEFORE TRIPOLI. 1 

A rosier flood of golden light, 

A livelier pulse of melody, 
Tell of a new supreme delight 

For Heaven's endless jubilee. 
Joys none of finer holier birth 
Hath Heaven, than manly deeds on earth. 
Swift now the fire-eyed host 
Of warriors quit their post, 
And gathering, 
Vast lucent ring, 
On the deep earthward bound of their blest 

home, 
Shine like a throbbing luminous dome. 

1 See Cooper's Naval History of the United States. 



SOMERS, WADSWORTH, ISRAEL. 37 

Soul's subtlest lightning 
That army brightening, 
Sparkled their glad emotion, 
Like moon-enlightened ocean. 
A myriad host they mustered, 
In song-wove circles clustered, 
Of every age and strand. 
He who had sought 

The martyr's death ; 
He who had wrought, 
With gushing breath, 
To build his fatherland ; 
He whose faint ear, 

On battle-fields lying, 
Freedom's great cheer 

Had blest in his dying ; 
He whom the might 
. Of duty had lifted, 
With front upright, 
By war to be rifted ; 



38 SOMERS, WADS WORTH, ISRAEL. 

The hearted ones, whose deaths have been 
The births of deathless thoughts in men. 
With jocund flight, they sped 
Towards Afric's shore, where, spread 
On the black level of a sunless sea, 
Columbia's fleet, afront of Tripoli. 
They gather round one slender bark, 
They smile upon her starry banner ; 
Her deadly cargo calmly mark, 
And as the men who are to man her 
Each freely comes with noiseless will, 
A swifter wave of holy light 
Pulsed through the angelic host a thrill, 
That flamed them more unearthly bright. 

Hushed is the fleet ; a fearful deed 's to do. 
All hearts are with that bark and her calm 

crew. 
A low " God bless you ! " seizure of the 

hand, — 



SOJIERS, WADS WORTH, ISRAEL. 39 

A manly, tender look, — and the choice 

band 
Have parted from their comrades. Fare ye 

well, 
Ye brave, with Sobers, TVadsworth, Is- 
rael ! 
Steadfast and silent takes his station each : 
Only who stay are moved. With warning 

speech, 
Decatur, who for self ne'er clanger spied, 
Greets Somers ; and stout Preble's bosom 

sighed, 
As from his eye quick glided in the gloom 
The death-stored vessel, onward to her 
doom. 
Through the dark majestic night, 
Forth she slid like voiceless sprite. 
On her deck, so silent, cheerless, 
Thirteen hearts beat free and fearless. 
Friends were behind them, foes before ; 



40 SOMERS, WADS WORTH, ISRAEL. 

Bound and under, 
War's black thunder 
Slept till a spark should wake its roar. 
But Heaven smiled through stars above ; 
And deep within 
Each heart's strong rim 
Glowed the clear fire of country's love. 
Hushed deeper is the fleet. All eyes are 

one; 
All fastened to the lone " Intrepid's " path. 
The wind is gauged, the time 't will take to 

run 
To the Turk's cruisers, where will burst her 

wrath. 
The bold bark's desperate goal she '11 quickly 

gain ; 
The scene fore-paints itself on the strung 
brain : — 
See Somers stand, 
With fire in hand ; 



SOMERS, WADSWORTH, ISRAEL. 41 

His comrades ready, 
No nerve unsteady : 
The match is lighted ; 
The crew, unfrighted, 
(Naught of earth could shake them,) 
To the boats betake them, — 
Harshly is rent this hopeful dream. 
Forth from the Moslem fort a stream 
Gushes of flame, then quick the ear 
Is stricken by the cannoneer. 
Stream upon stream ; with each a mate 
Of thunder on the air doth grate. 
Is broke this hot suspense 
By what o'er whelmed the sense. 
One flash, as though all light were spent ! 
One crash, as though a sphere were rent ! 
Trembled the wars-men to their keels ; 
Glared the dark sea, as thing that feels. 
By that appalling light, each saw 
His neighbor's visage blanched with awe. 



42 SOMERS, WADSWORTH, ISRAEL. 

The air collapsed; as though a wrench 
Were made Earth's very life to quench. 
Silence and Night, as fraught with general 

death; 
Rush back; while Turk and Christian hold 
their daunted breath. 

More slowly than when Ocean's homeward 
way 
Is balked with calms ; drag on the minutes 
now. 
Keener than the fierce famished shark for 
prey; 
Watches each silent ship from stern to 
prow. 

Save when impetuous fancy cheats the hope 
With semblances of sound; nor eye nor ear 

Can seize on aught within their tensest scope. 
As hours wear sadly on ; night grows more 
drear. 



S0J1ERS, WADSWORTH, ISRAEL, 43 

Close to tlie water's edge the seamen creep, 
Striving to catch the stroke of muffled 
oar. 
The hands that should have pulled them, on 
the deep, 
Where Courage keeps his state, will pull 
no more. 

Gleams the high rocket ; booms the signal 
gun, 
Calling to Someks, "Wadsworth, Israel. 
The heavenward gleam points to the path 
they 've gone ; 
The cannon's helpful roar, — it is their 
knell. 

None came to say, how died th' heroic band ; 
And Death and Night the fearful secret 
kept. 



44 SOMERS, WADSWORTH, ISRAEL. 

Shrieked mothers, sisters, wives, as from that 
strand 
Eeached the dread tale, and a whole na- 
tion wept. 

Gay as blossoms breeze-borne dancing, 
Heavenward flew th' angelic host, 

Swift as sunbeams earthward glancing, 
Back to their empyreal post. 

E'er that glare the fleet that daunted 
Quick was swallowed by the night, 

They their song of triumph chanted 
Near th' eternal realms of light. 

Linked in wreaths 'round heaven's portal, 
With the lightsome grace of joy, 

Hung that shining host immortal, 
Heirs of bliss without alloy. 



SOMERS, WADSWORTH, ISRAEL. 45 

Backward then their vision darting, 

In the nether darkness met, 
Just from earth fresh upward starting, 

What seemed stars in circle set. 

Upward, upward, surely steering, 
Sparkling with perennial ray, 

Thirteen heroes free careering 
Upward to the heavenly day. 

Now they near the blissful portal, 
Brightening still as they advance ; 

Now the exultant host immortal 
Circle them with choral dance, 

Circle them transfigured, gleaming 
With their action's holy spell, 

Chief among them, raptured beaming, 
Somers, Wadsworth, Israel. 

1846. 



REUBEN JAMES. 1 

Ok the deck, blood-soiled, 
In a death-grip coiled, 
The captains lay ; 
Decatnr up, — below, the Turk. 
Fierce round them play 
The Christian sword and Moslem dirk. 
Above the hero's head 

A scymetar keen flashes ; 
An instant more, he 's sped : 
Down the sharp weapon clashes. 
To ward the blow, 
To seize the foe, 
Nor arm nor sword is there ; by stands 
But one poor tar, maimed in both hands. 
Down sweeps the Turkish glave, — 

1 See Cooper's Naval History. 



REUBEN JAMES. 47 

Decatur naught can save. 
What cannot a brave heart ? 
That tar, with a quick start, 
Thrusts his young head between : 
It takes the steel's deep seam. 
'T was for a hero by a hero done : 
Both must be great that deed so great be 
won. 
Higher among heroic names 
Stands thenceforth none than Reuben 
James. 

1846. 



WASHINGTON. 

I. 

THE RIVER. 

The wooded banks are silent each to each, 
Far sundered as by rounding lake ; 

To grasp the tideful flood's ambitious reach 
The heavens a dim horizon make : 
Fitly these woven grandeurs feed 

Moods which a mighty presence here doth 
breed. 

The fires of spring are kindled on the shores : 

Cherry and dogwood flame in white ; 
Blossoms in green the life from sassafras 
cores ; 
But warmest is the redbud's light : 
To each a deeper glow results 
From his soul's heat who ruleth now my 
pulse. 



WASHINGTON. 49 

Its hungry flanks the cork-buoyed seine 
spreads wide ; 

The boatman's call is heard afar ; 
The distant craft like friendly spectres glide ; 

But all to me transfigured are : 

For over all himself impends ; 
To each his worth benignant blessing lends. 

Potomac ! great thou art from thy great 
flood j 
Greater as seat of empire vast ; 
But greatest^ that thy breezes nursed the 
blood 
Of him, the foremost of the past ; 
For whom aye sacred shalt thou be, 
With Avon, Tibur, holiest Galilee. 



50 WASHINGTON. 

II. 

THE SALUTE. 

Once more in hardv conflict met 

*/ 

The mother proud and daughter bold^ 
To slay and mangle, fright and fret, — 
A quarrel that was new and old. 

For England, rankling with the past, 
And angered at our forward port, 

Insult and taunt upon us cast, 
Which first awakened no retort ; 

For ours are arms of puissant peace, 
The axe than sword we rather wield, 

And take our joy in sure increase 
By thoughtful work in shop and field 

But England pushed her will so far, 
She threatened very freedom's life : 



WASHINGTON. 51 

Then flung we loose the flag of war, 
And leapt resolved into the strife ; 

Where unknit thews such buffets dealt, 
The unshaken giant heaved with groans, 

And England, startled, bodeful felt 
More than her marrow in our bones. 

That through the Capital was heard 
A foeman's drum, to us was shame ; 

Deeper to England; that she blurred 
Such conquest with malignant flame. 

By light of flaring roofs in haste 

Her prows and banners seaward turned ; 
And on Potomac's broadening waste 

A frigate's signals fearless burned. 

Descending^ she with proud disdain 
Anchored abreast a threatening fort ; 



52 WASHINGTON. 

Then stormy poured her iron rain, 
That shook the shores with far report. 

The fort's resistance quickly slept : 
Dark scornful, on her downward path 

Again the frigate silent swept ; 

Wrath that she could not slake her 
wrath. 

Summer still warmed the autumn wind, 
And verdure shared with reddening tints 

The leafy wealth, and breezes kind 
Shook on the water tenderest prints, 

As with her shade that westward swept, 
With spars and masts sail-crested all, 

The frowning frigate mutely crept, 
Like goblin through a festival. 

" Whose house stands there ? " — And he, 
thus asked, 



WASHINGTON. 53 

Answered, " Mount Vernon." By the 

name 
The Captain's recollection tasked — 

"The home of Washington?" " The 

same." 

" And lies he buried there ? " The words 
Stooped, laden with emotion's load. 

" Beneath those trees, where hymn the birds, 
There is the body's still abode." 

His eyes grew deeper. By degrees, 

As one with vast imaginings 
Possest, who in high distance sees 

Besplendent forms of palmy things, 

An earnest joy perfused his face : 
Unconsciously his cap he raised 

With a religious knightly grace, 
As, inward wrought, afar he gazed. 



54 WASHINGTON. 

" Beat to quarters." The order flew 
Swift to the hot pugnacious drum, 

At whose loved voice upsprang the crew, 
Thinking another fight was come. 

But soon 't was whispered 'mong the men, 
When each stood braced beside his gun, 

That death was not their duty then, 
But calm salute to Washington. 

By the strong cannon's measured speech 
Was tamed the roughness of their pride, 

As wrinkles on a wintry beach 

By sounding blows from landward tide. 

And when had passed the smoke away 
Passed too was hate and scorn and wrath 

Within her breast for night was day, 
As swam the frigate down her path. 



WASHINGTON. 55 

His holy strength had conquered strife, 
Subduing hearts so stout and brave : 

A mighty conqueror in his life, 
A mightier is he in his grave. 

in. 

TRIBUTE. 

Sublimer man than ever threw 
To eager Time a virgin name, — 

So greatly pure it quickly grew 
The wisest monitor of fame ; 

A nation's breath is breath of thine, 
Commingled at each human birth : 

Of our vast freedom's life the wine 

Is draughts from thy deep manly worth. 

The robust beauty of one life 
Tingles in each unfolding heart, 



56 WASHINGTON. 

A strength forever in the strife 

Of right 'gainst wrong's compulsive art. 

Sublimest man of all the years, 

The years are proud to walk with thee 

On Time's hoar brow thy greatness rears 
His crown of lordliest majesty. 

1858. 



